Call for independent inquiry into Morwell coal mine fire

An environmental legal group is calling for independent inquiry into the fire in the Morwell coal mine.

A fire has been burning in the coal since February 9, sending a thick stream of smoke over the Latrobe Valley town.

Residents have complained about feeling sick and some school children have been sent to other schools in nearby Moe.

The Environment Defenders Office says the fire raises serious questions about how the mine operator, GDF Suez, is managing the mine.

The office's Felicity Millner says accountability issues should be examined.

"The fires are a really significant pollution and public health issue," she said.

"We think that the regulations either should have foreseen this sort of event occurring and prevented it from occurring, or that if the regulations were in place to prevent this type of event from occurring then someone needs to be answerable."

GDF Suez has rejected reports it removed firefighting systems from the are where the fire is burning, saying the pipes were taken out more than 25 years ago.

The company says it would be inappropriate to comment on the prospect of an inquiry.

Meanwhile health groups have called for a monitoring program to assess any long-term health effects from the fire.

Family moves out of Morwell home because of ash

Lisa Dourley's family has moved out of their home on Langford St in Morwell after her daughter started suffering from nosebleeds.

"Our homes smell like a briquette. We've got this ash residue falling all over our cars within our homes," she said.

"We've had to move out and we're now living in a hotel."

She says her daughter's nosebleeds have improved since leaving.

"Our community really needs some help. We need the Government to step up. We need to understand what these health effects are," she said.

"I'm really worried about my family's future and my community."

Pregnant women, the elderly, the young and those with pre-existing respiratory problems are most at risk.

136 people assessed for health problems in Morwell

Health Minister David Davis has defended the government's action, saying locals can go to a respite centre at Moe or have their health concerns assessed at a special health centre.

He says 136 people have already been assessed.

Some have been referred to the local hospital emergency for pre-existing conditions and others have been referred to their GPs.

When pressed about why the Government was not doing more, Mr Davis said he is acting on the advice of the chief health officer, Rosemary Lester.

"The information we have from GPs and from Latrobe Valley Health is that there hasn't been any great increase or problem in terms of people presenting with new or different health conditions," he said.

"That's the fact of the matter. Those facts are informing the chief health officer and her advice to me."

The State Opposition says top health officials should be based in Morwell, to reassure locals.

Opposition Leader Daniel Andrews says the people of Morwell feel they have been abandoned by the Government.

"Perhaps she needs to be based down there, taking charge of all the information, the warnings, the alerts, certainly those that are of a health nature and they're the ones that are the most important," he said.